By Paul Upham: Australia's "Lionheart" Nader Hamdan will face German based Armenian Arthur Abraham for the vacant WBA International middleweight title at the Brandenburg-Halle in Frankfurt, Germany on July 24. "It's the opportunity I've been looking for," Hamdan 36-1 (17) told SecondsOut on Saturday. "I win this fight and anything can happen. I want a shot at the WBA world champion Maselino Masoe. Once I beat Abraham, Masoe is the fight I want."
24 year-old Abraham has a perfect record with eleven wins from eleven fights, all by knockout and is trained by Ulli Wegner and promoted by Wilfried Sauerland.
"I don't know much about him, but there is no doubt he can punch," said Hamdan, who has been campaigning at super middleweight for his last three fights but has decided to drop back down to 160lbs with the winner of this fight receiving the No.9 rating by the WBA.
"Yes, I did have to think about it, going back to middleweight, but it's just an opportunity I couldn't pass up," said Hamdan. "I have concerns about going to fight in Germany, but this is my job and I can't always fight in my own backyard. My plan is to take the decision out of the judges' and referee's hands by fighting to the best of my ability and making it a clear-cut knockout or points win so there can be no dispute. I have seen what has happened to other fighters but it is up to me to bring my best performance to the ring so that there is no doubt who won the fight."
30 year-old Hamdan was scheduled to fight for the IBF Pan Pacific super middleweight title against Brett Culey on July 16, but has decided to take the fight he feels will be more beneficial to his international career.
"I've waited so long for this chance and you've got to take it while it is there," he said, making a point of thanking his matchmaker Angelo Hyder who secured the fight for him. "Angelo really is the man when it comes to being tenacious and sealing contracts," he said. "He has always been looking out for me and people don't understand how difficult it is to get these fights. Without Angelo this fight would not have happened."
Trainer Michael Akkaway and Billy Hussein will accompany Hamdan to Germany when they depart from Sydney on July 18
"I've already spoken to Jeff Fenech and when I win this fight, he is going to help me get the fight with Masoe through Don King," said Hamdan. "I'm not going to let my family and fans down with my performance in Germany."
Paul Upham
Contributing Editor
|
Subscribe to feed
